The Alvernian Session 2, Week 2
From The Director
There’s a tremendous power in human interaction, and I see it every day here at Camp Alvernia.
Smiling at each other. Remembering and using each other’s names. Saying to someone, “I’m glad you’re here”. Holding the door open. Cheering each other on at Red vs Blue. Inviting someone to sit with you at the talent show.
We have the power to make people feel seen, included, and at home.
I always say that we could run an amazing camp with a parking lot and some cardboard boxes, as long as we have the right people. Because while we have an amazing history and a gorgeous property, Camp Alvernia is special because of the people who are in it.
To everyone reading this, you are a part of the Camp Alvernia family. Thank you for being you - we appreciate you so much!
-Ben Esposito, Director
This week, I am sharing a powerful quote from Don Miguel Ruiz that I find very insightful.
“Be Impeccable With Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.”
This message holds great wisdom for all of us.
-Badyr
From The CITs and JCs
CITs and JCs said “see you soon” to some of our team members and gave a warm “welcome” to new members. The CITs even set out on their very own CIT sail, which turned into quite the adventure when one of the sailboats capsized!
CITs continue to strengthen our team connections through games and activities designed to build leadership skills, with a focus on planning engaging activities for campers, handling conflict, and raising our level of professionalism.
JCs have been exploring what makes a great leader by identifying key leadership traits and reflecting on the leaders they admire in their own lives. Through games and discussions, we’ve been opening up about our stressors and learning strategies to relieve them. We also talked about how leadership often involves taking risks and building trust both of which can be challenging! Together, we continue to grow our professionalism and communication skills as we work closely with our colleagues and campers.
The growth in this group is off the charts as we head into Session 3 with great excitement!
-Anika & Sarah, CIT & JC Supervisor
From The Waterfront
We’ve been super busy down at the waterfront over the last session! Of course all campers have been having a blast paddling and sailing, but we’ve also had a couple of special highlights.
First, we had FIVE Herons earn their sailing certification. Big shout out to Ava, Jack, Lady, Andrew, and Dante. We are so proud of all their hard work and dedication to becoming sailors! We look forward to watching them take their friends out for sails this summer and the summers to come.
Second, we’ve had some intense paddle races across the age groups to raise money for those camps impacted by the flooding in Texas. It’s been so nice to see the campers cheering for and supporting each other - and even better that it’s for such a great cause! These races (and the fundraising) will continue into the first week of the third session. Families can make a donation using the link below.
Winners will be announced at the conclusion of the races on August 9th. The fastest racer for each age group will earn free canteen!
We can’t wait for another amazing session spent out on the water and to meet all the new third session campers!
Over and out,
Bob, Erin, and Lauren
Waterfront Supervisors
Eagles
This week for the Eagles was full of fun and excitement from start to finish! We got back out to the throwing range for another round of axe-throwing, and it was an axe-traordinary time. Everyone was pumped to throw again, and it was awesome to see how much better everyone had gotten, and how much more they enjoyed themselves! The energy was high, the axes were flying, and the smiles were everywhere.
A bunch of campers even hit bull’s-eyes! Major shoutouts to Charlotte, Charlie, James, Michaela, and Jessica for landing some solid throws! And a huge congrats to our group team leader, Julie, who scored the most points overall and took the win for the week. Way to go, Eagles!
Back at camp, we celebrated one of the most anticipated events of the summer: Red vs. Blue Day. The Red Krakens pulled off a big win, but every camper gave it their all, making it a day full of teamwork, spirited competition, and loads of laughter. One of the day’s most memorable moments? The campers beating the staff by a landslide in one of the final challenges! The staff will be recovering from that defeat for a while…
From bullseyes to bold team wins, this week was packed with great memories, teamwork, and Eagle pride!
– Claude, Kierstin & Erin, Eagles Supervisors
Herons
Week 5 was an exciting and memorable time for the Herons age group at Camp Alvernia! A major highlight was the achievement of several campers - Dante, Adelaide, Jack, Ava, and Andrew - who earned their sailing certifications after putting in hard work and dedication throughout the session. The group also had a blast when the fire truck came by, turning the camp into a giant sprinkler party.
Another big moment was the Red vs. Blue competition, where team spirit was at an all-time high. The Herons cheered hard, and the Red Team came out on top in a fun and friendly showdown. Excitement continued as the campers gathered to watch their supervisor Jack and counselor Carina take part in the staff relay, proudly representing the Herons with energy and enthusiasm. Week 5 was filled with achievement, teamwork, and joy, and we’re already looking forward to what’s in store for the final session of the summer!
Ospreys
What a week for the Ospreys! One of the highlights was a visit from the fire truck, which cooled everyone off with a giant spray-down — the campers absolutely loved it. We also cheered on our counselors Cooper and Josh during the exciting staff relay; they represented the Ospreys with pride and energy. Our Red vs. Blue special day brought out everyone’s team spirit, and while Red came out on top, the whole group showed amazing sportsmanship. It’s been a week full of fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories. To all our campers not returning for Session 3, we wish you a wonderful rest of your summer — we’ll miss you!
-Juliet, Ospreys Supervisor
Plovers
There were so many special days in store for us this week! On Monday and Tuesday, Plovers at nature showed off their green thumbs by planting and making a positive impact on the environment.
We had lots of “super heroes” come to camp on Wednesday. The Plover costumes were full of cape-tivating creativity! On Thursday, Plovers 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 were victorious in Red vs Blue day! Don’t worry Blue team, you all did an amazing job earning points for your team! Great job to everyone!
We had a fun-filled Friday at the Plover Talent Show. The stage was buzzing with exciting skills such hula hooping, armpit farting, showing off lego cars, and break dancing! The crowd cheered for every act, and the campers loved having their moment to shine!
We’re sad session 2 has come to an end, but we are excited to meet new friends and make more memories in session 3!
-Bree, Plovers Supervisor
Sandpipers
Hello Sandpiper families!
We had the most amazing week to end session 2! It was a hot week but that did not stop them from having a ball. We got a visit from the Centerport Fire Department to cool us down on Tuesday. Wednesday was at superhero day where our camper got into the super spirit! We got another visit this week from the Suffolk County Police Department. On Thursday, we celebrated our special day, which was red versus blue.
Our campers came all dressed up in their team colours and earned points through game that they played throughout the day for their team. The week, ending with the coolest day of the summer, so far for the campers for super excited for the end of the week, pizza and ice cream. We look forward to seeing you all next week!
-Brad & Talia, Sandpiper Supervisors
Ducklings
This week in the world of the Ducklings, they had fun trying new experiences and activities! At dance, they collaboratively made their own dance by each contributing a dance move. Dylan and Theo loved showing off their cool moves! At nature, they learned about seeds and how they grow when they planted marigold seeds!
On Thursday, the Ducklings engaged in some friendly competition during Red vs. Blue day, where Elio and Carter loved playing a game using wet sponges on the tennis courts! Then while it was chilly on Friday morning, the Ducklings stayed inside and painted rocks. This was a fun way to stay creative, and Joe and Franklin had so much fun mixing the colors!
Session 2 was wonderful with the Ducklings, and we can’t wait for Session 3!
